Need to transfer your video files from Google Drive to Box? Whether you're switching cloud storage providers, organizing your digital assets, or just need to share videos with team members who use Box, this process can be straightforward when you know the right steps. In this guide, I'll walk you through several methods to move your videos efficiently while keeping your files intact and organized.

Why Transfer Videos from Google Drive to Box?

Before diving into the how-to, let's quickly look at why you might want to move your videos:

• Your company has switched from Google Workspace to Box for business
• You need more storage space than your current Google Drive plan offers
• Box provides better video management features for your needs
• You want to consolidate all your files in one cloud platform
• Box offers better security or compliance features for your video content

Whatever your reason, I've got you covered with multiple methods to transfer those videos smoothly.

Method 1: Download and Upload Method

The most straightforward approach is to download your videos from Google Drive to your computer, then upload them to Box. While simple, this method works best for smaller files or when you have a fast internet connection.

Step-by-Step: Download from Google Drive

1. Open your web browser and go to Google Drive
2. Sign in to your Google account if you haven't already
3. Locate the video files you want to transfer
4. Select videos by clicking on them while holding Ctrl (Windows) or Command (Mac) for multiple selections
5. Right-click on the selected files and choose "Download" from the menu
6. Google Drive will compress your files into a ZIP folder if you've selected multiple videos
7. Once downloaded, extract the ZIP file if necessary

Step-by-Step: Upload to Box

1. Go to Box.com and sign in to your account
2. Navigate to the folder where you want to upload your videos
3. Click the "Upload" button in the top-right corner
4. Select "Files" or "Folder" depending on how you organized your downloaded videos
5. Browse to locate your video files on your computer
6. Select the videos and click "Open" to begin uploading
7. Wait for the upload to complete (you'll see a progress indicator)

This method is reliable but has limitations. For large video files, you might face timeout issues or slow transfers depending on your internet connection. If you have many videos to move, consider one of the following methods instead.

Method 2: Using Box Drive and Google Drive Desktop Apps

This method uses the desktop applications for both services, making transfers more reliable for larger files.

Step 1: Install Both Desktop Applications

First, make sure you have both Google Drive and Box Drive installed on your computer:

• Download Google Drive for Desktop
• Download Box Drive

Step 2: Set Up Both Applications

1. Install Google Drive for Desktop and sign in to your account
2. Install Box Drive and sign in to your Box account
3. Wait for both applications to sync and show up as drives on your computer

Step 3: Transfer Files Between Drives

1. Open File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac)
2. Navigate to your Google Drive folder (usually labeled as "G:" or "Google Drive")
3. Find the videos you want to transfer
4. Select the videos (use Ctrl+Click or Command+Click for multiple selections)
5. Copy the files (Ctrl+C or Command+C)
6. Navigate to your Box Drive folder
7. Paste the files (Ctrl+V or Command+V) into your desired Box folder

The advantage of this method is that the transfer happens on your computer, so there's less chance of network interruptions affecting the process. The files are copied directly from one cloud service to another through your local machine.

Method 3: Using the Box for Google Drive Integration

Box offers an official integration with Google Drive that can make transfers even easier.

Step 1: Install the Box for Google Drive Integration

1. Go to the Chrome Web Store
2. Search for "Box for Google Drive"
3. Click "Add to Chrome" to install the extension
4. Follow the prompts to authorize the integration

Step 2: Connect Your Accounts

1. After installing, you'll be prompted to log in to your Box account
2. Authorize the connection between Box and Google Drive
3. Accept any permission requests that appear

Step 3: Transfer Videos Using the Integration

1. Go to Google Drive in your browser
2. Select the videos you want to transfer
3. Click on the Box icon in the Google Drive interface
4. Choose the destination folder in Box
5. Click "Save to Box" to start the transfer

This method is convenient because you don't need to download files to your local device. The transfer happens directly between the cloud services.

Method 4: Using Third-Party Transfer Services

Several third-party services specialize in transferring files between cloud storage platforms. These can be especially useful for large transfers.

Popular File Transfer Services:

Service	Free Tier	Pros	Cons
MultCloud	Yes (limited)	Direct cloud-to-cloud transfer, scheduled transfers	Free version has speed limitations
odrive	Yes	Unified interface for multiple clouds, sync options	Advanced features require subscription
Rclone	Yes (open source)	Command-line power and flexibility, no size limits	Steeper learning curve, technical setup
AirExplorer	Yes (limited)	User-friendly interface, parallel transfers	Free version limits number of cloud connections

Using MultCloud as an Example:

1. Go to MultCloud.com and sign up for an account
2. Click "Add Cloud" and select Google Drive from the options
3. Authorize MultCloud to access your Google Drive
4. Repeat the process to add your Box account
5. Go to "Cloud Transfer" in the MultCloud interface
6. Select Google Drive as the source and navigate to your videos
7. Select Box as the destination and choose your target folder
8. Click "Transfer Now" to begin the process

Third-party services can be ideal for large transfers because they handle the process in the cloud, meaning you don't need to keep your computer running during the transfer.

Quick Tip to ensure your videos never go missing

Videos are precious memories and all of us never want to lose them to hard disk crashes or missing drives. PicBackMan is the easiest and simplest way to keep your videos safely backed up in one or more online accounts. 

Simply download PicBackMan (it's free!), register your account, connect to your online store and tell PicBackMan where your videos are - PicBackMan does the rest, automatically. It bulk uploads all videos and keeps looking for new ones and uploads those too. You don't have to ever touch it.

Method 5: Using the API Approach (For Technical Users)

If you're comfortable with programming and need to transfer many videos or automate the process, using the APIs of both services might be the most efficient approach.

Basic Python Script Example:

# This is a simplified example and requires proper setup
import os
from googleapiclient.discovery import build
from google.oauth2 import service_account
from boxsdk import Client, OAuth2

# Set up Google Drive API
SCOPES = ['https://www.googleapis.com/auth/drive.readonly']
SERVICE_ACCOUNT_FILE = 'your-service-account-key.json'
credentials = service_account.Credentials.from_service_account_file(
    SERVICE_ACCOUNT_FILE, scopes=SCOPES)
drive_service = build('drive', 'v3', credentials=credentials)

# Set up Box API
auth = OAuth2(
    client_id='your_client_id',
    client_secret='your_client_secret',
    access_token='your_access_token'
)
box_client = Client(auth)

# Function to download from Google Drive
def download_file(file_id, file_name):
    request = drive_service.files().get_media(fileId=file_id)
    with open(file_name, 'wb') as f:
        downloader = MediaIoBaseDownload(f, request)
        done = False
        while done is False:
            status, done = downloader.next_chunk()

# Function to upload to Box
def upload_to_box(file_path, folder_id):
    box_folder = box_client.folder(folder_id)
    uploaded_file = box_folder.upload(file_path)
    return uploaded_file

# Main process
def transfer_videos():
    # Get videos from Google Drive
    results = drive_service.files().list(
        q="mimeType contains 'video/' and trashed=false",
        fields="files(id, name)"
    ).execute()
    
    for file in results.get('files', []):
        temp_path = f"/tmp/{file['name']}"
        # Download from Google Drive
        download_file(file['id'], temp_path)
        # Upload to Box
        upload_to_box(temp_path, 'your_box_folder_id')
        # Clean up temp file
        os.remove(temp_path)
        print(f"Transferred: {file['name']}")

if __name__ == '__main__':
    transfer_videos()

This approach requires setting up developer accounts with both Google and Box, creating API keys, and handling authentication properly. It's advanced but offers complete control over the transfer process.

Comparing All Methods for Moving Videos from Google Drive to Box

Method	Ease of Use	Speed	Best For	Limitations
Download and Upload	Easy	Slow	Few, small videos	Requires double bandwidth usage
Desktop Apps	Medium	Medium	Medium-sized collections	Computer must stay on during transfer
Box Integration	Easy	Medium	Regular users	May have file size limitations
Third-Party Services	Medium	Fast	Large collections	Potential privacy concerns, costs
API Approach	Hard	Fast	Automation, bulk transfers	Requires technical knowledge

Tips for a Successful Transfer

Before You Begin

• Check your Box storage limit to ensure you have enough space for all videos
• Organize your videos in Google Drive before transferring to maintain structure
• Consider creating a backup of important videos before starting
• Check both services' file size limitations

During the Transfer

• Start with smaller files to test your chosen method
• For large transfers, consider using a wired internet connection
• Don't close your browser or put your computer to sleep during web-based transfers
• Transfer in batches if you have many videos to move

After the Transfer

• Verify that all videos were transferred correctly by checking file counts and sizes
• Test a few videos in Box to ensure they play properly
• Check that any folder structure was maintained as expected
• Only delete the originals from Google Drive after confirming a successful transfer

Troubleshooting Common Transfer Issues

Transfer Fails or Times Out

If your transfer keeps failing:

• Try transferring fewer videos at once
• Check your internet connection stability
• For large files, use the desktop app method or a third-party service
• Ensure you haven't exceeded Box's storage limit

Videos Won't Play After Transfer

If transferred videos don't play properly:

• Verify the video wasn't corrupted during transfer by comparing file sizes
• Check if Box supports the video format (most common formats should work)
• Try downloading the video back to your computer to see if it plays locally
• Some extremely high-resolution or specialized formats might need conversion before upload

Missing Files After Transfer

If some files didn't transfer:

• Check if they exceeded Box's file size limits
• Look for error messages in transfer logs (especially with third-party tools)
• Verify you had permission to access those particular files in Google Drive
• Try transferring the missing files individually

Special Considerations for Large Video Files

Video files can be particularly large, especially if they're high-definition or uncompressed. Here are some special tips for handling large video transfers:

File Size Limits

• Box personal accounts typically have a 5GB file size limit
• Box Business and Enterprise accounts allow files up to 15GB or 50GB depending on your plan
• If your videos exceed these limits, consider compressing them or using a video splitting tool before transfer

Transfer Speeds

For very large video collections:

• The API or third-party service methods will usually be fastest
• Consider scheduling transfers during off-peak hours
• If using the download/upload method, an external hard drive can be faster than internet transfers for massive collections

Maintaining Video Quality During Transfer

One concern when moving videos is preserving quality. The good news is that when transferring files directly between cloud services, there's no quality loss because you're moving the exact same file. However, if you're downloading and uploading, ensure you're not accidentally compressing or converting the videos.

Video Metadata

Some video files contain important metadata like creation date, camera information, or custom tags. Most transfer methods will preserve this metadata, but it's worth checking a few files after transfer to confirm that important information wasn't lost.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Will I lose video quality when transferring from Google Drive to Box?

No, when transferring files directly between cloud services, you're moving the exact same file with no quality loss. The video quality remains identical as long as you're not converting the format during the process.

2. How long does it take to transfer videos from Google Drive to Box?

The transfer time depends on your internet speed, the size of your videos, and the method you choose. Small collections might take minutes, while large libraries could take hours or days. Direct cloud-to-cloud transfers using third-party services are typically fastest.

3. Can I keep the same folder structure when moving videos to Box?

Yes, most methods allow you to maintain your folder structure. The desktop application method and third-party services are particularly good at preserving your organization. When using the download-upload method, you'll need to recreate the folder structure manually in Box.

4. Do I need to pay for a service to transfer my videos?

No, you can transfer videos for free using the download-upload method or desktop applications. Third-party services often offer free tiers with limitations on transfer speed or file size. The only potential costs are if you need premium features for very large transfers.

5. Is it safe to use third-party services to transfer my videos?

Reputable third-party transfer services use secure connections and don't store your content permanently. However, you should always research the service's privacy policy before granting access to your cloud accounts. For sensitive or confidential videos, consider using the desktop application method instead.

Conclusion

Moving videos from Google Drive to Box doesn't have to be complicated. Whether you choose the simple download-upload method, leverage desktop applications, use Box's integration with Google Drive, employ a third-party transfer service, or create your own API solution, you now have multiple options to fit your specific needs.

For most users with a moderate number of videos, the desktop application method provides the best balance of simplicity and reliability. For larger collections or frequent transfers, investing time in setting up a third-party service or API solution can save hours in the long run.

Remember to verify your transfers are complete and successful before removing the original files from Google Drive. With the right approach, you can smoothly transition your video collection to Box while maintaining organization and quality.